HOWARD UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL EXPOSITORY WRITING EXAMINATION (EWE) August 16, 2016 Gwendolyn S. Bethea, Ph.D. Director, Communications and Expository Writing Program

 Is a Diagnostic and Teaching Tool  Measures writing skills  Shows how well you can explain, describe, or inform a reader  Was mandated by the Board of Trustees  Is one of the prerequisites for Candidacy for Master’s and Doctoral Degree (EVIDENCE MUST BE IN YOUR PORTFOLIO)  Should be taken in the beginning of the graduate program (DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE SEMESTER YOU PLAN TO GRADUATE OR YOU ARE TAKING THE COMPREHENSIVES OR SCREENING EXAMINATION, YOU WILL BENEFIT FROM LEARNING YOUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES)  What is the Expository Writing Examination (EWE)?

 2. Vague pronoun reference 2. Vague pronoun reference  3. Missing comma in a compound sentence 3. Missing comma in a compound sentence  4. Wrong word 4. Wrong word  5. Missing comma(s) with a nonrestrictive element 5. Missing comma(s) with a nonrestrictive element  6. Wrong or missing verb ending 6. Wrong or missing verb ending  7. Wrong or missing preposition 7. Wrong or missing preposition  8. Missing or misplaced possessive apostrophe 8. Missing or misplaced possessive apostrophe  9. Unnecessary shift in tense 9. Unnecessary shift in tense  10. Unnecessary shift in pronoun 10. Unnecessary shift in pronoun  11. Sentence fragment 11. Sentence fragment  12 Wrong tense or verb form 12 Wrong tense or verb form  13. Lack of subject-verb agreement 13. Lack of subject-verb agreement  14. Missing comma in a series 14. Missing comma in a series  15. Lack of agreement between pronoun and antecedent 15. Lack of agreement between pronoun and antecedent  16. Unnecessary comma(s) with a restrictive element1 16. Unnecessary comma(s) with a restrictive element1  Paragraphs long and vague  Transitioning

 Consists of a 500-word essay on one of several topics provided by the Program for Academic Support Services Office (PASS) ◦ Current events, topics of general interest ◦ (example, current debates over political and social issues, airline safety, global health crisis, Internet concerns) E What is EPE (continued)?

 Taken on Computer  Special arrangements can be made for exempt students who prefer to write their exams How is EPE Administered?

 All students admitted to the Graduate School, including ◦ Speakers of English as a Second Language  Special provisions provided for students with special needs (please call the PASS office: ); you must let me know in advance; need letter from Special Student Services office. Who Must Take the EPE?

 Registration is required online: (  Only registered students can take the examination Is Registration Required for the Exam?

 Graded by an External Reviewers with Writing and Grammar Expertise  If you score 5 or better, you will receive notice that you have passed without the need for personal consultation  If you score between 4 and 5, you must meet with the Program Director or Writing Lab Assistant and, if necessary, take an online tutorial before receiving the certificate; must schedule consultation in the same semester as the test (not in the semester that you plan to graduate)  If you score below 4, you must take a course to improve writing skills; notice will be provided via How is the Exam Graded?

 Scorers of 5 or above on the GRE Writing Examination are exempt  Documentation is required  What to Bring to the Exam  A Who is Exempt?

 A Thesauras No electronic devices will be used

 If you fail the examination, you are required to take the Academic Communication Course  Focuses on mechanics of writing ◦ Grammar, spelling, and punctuation ◦ Content and development of writing (thesis development, paragraph structure, and organization ◦ Taken in the Center for Academic Support, School of Education (Academic Support Building); other locations on campus as necessary; consult online course scheduling during registration Academic Communication Course

When and Where is the Exam Administered?  Fall, Spring and Summer Semesters Locations vary  August 22-27, 2016, Founders Library Digital Classroom, Room 116

 Compose Comprehensive Outline  Determine Main Idea/Thesis Statement  Compose Topic Sentences ( to introduce paragraphs and use Supportive Sentences)  Use Transitional Phrases between paragraphs  Summarize as appropriate  Ensure proper punctuation for clarity  Ensure noun/verb agreement  Check grammar, spelling;  Edit separately for content, grammar, spelling; end with strong conclusion Writing the Examination

 Lack of thesis statement (no main topic or idea)  Confusing introduction (vague, nothing to do with topic)  Paragraph development problems (one main idea per paragraph)  Lack of topic sentences (introductory sentences) for each paragraph with supportive sentences  Changing “person”  Lack of transitioning elements (Additionally, etc)  Wrong word usage (its versus it’s)  Missing commas or dashes in a restrictive element  Missing commas in a series (noun, noun, and noun)  Missing or misplaced possessive apostrophe (Harris’s, Jones’s)  Misleading titles  Weak or no conclusion or summary (no new ideas in conclusion or summary  Lack of citation or references (critical in academic writing) 

 Graduate School Study Guide  The Everyday Writer  Purdue Online Writing Lab owl.english.purdue.edu/owl  Common Errors in English Usage by Paul Brians  The English Chick Tips for Writing Essays  www1.aucegypt.edu/academic/writers/ r Resources and Guides

 Students advised of results via  Students arrange appointments to review exams, in same semester as test  Students will receive online notice and certification only  Students/departments/Graduate School retain records of exam results What Happens After the Examination?

 Plagiarism—to take and pass off intentionally as one’s own the ideas, writings, etc. of another without attribution (without acknowledging the author). Untentionally is just as serious as intentionally. Academic Code of Conduct website ent-conduct.htm

What is Plagiarism? "Plagiarism is possible with any work performed in any medium and in any scholarly discipline. Plagiarism involves the intentional or unintentional use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment in all such scholarly work as essays, examinations, oral/written reports, homework assignments, laboratory reports, computer programs, music scores, choreography, graphic depictions, and visual presentations. Plagiarism also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in selling of term papers or other academic materials.“ --Bowdoin Academic Honor CodeBowdoin Academic Honor Code demic-honesty/what-is-plagiarism.shtml

What are ways that plagiarism might apply to the Exam? Using a previous paper, essay, oral or written report, homework assignment - self-plagiarism Using a whole or partial quote without giving proper credit or citation Using someone else's examination

Visit the Program for Academic Support Services website: /6800 For more information